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Brad Pitt Courting David Fincher for ‘World War Z’ Sequel

Executive producer and star Brad Pitt is turning to an old friend to direct the delayed World War Z sequel.

Variety reports that Pitt, along with Paramount and Skydance, is in talks with David Fincher to direct the follow-up to the 2013 smash hit.

Pitt, who’s returning to star in and produce the World War Z sequel, recently met with a handful of other directors, but is said to be zeroing in on Fincher for the film, which is expected to start filming in early 2017.

Skydance and Paramount had no comment on the development.

Fincher and Pitt met two weeks ago to discuss the possibility of Fincher boarding the zombie tentpole and while talks were initially lukewarm, negotiations are much further down the road.

A Fincher-Pitt reunion on the World War Z sequel would mark their fourth film together, having previously collaborated on Se7en, Fight Club and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Fincher hasn’t directed a feature film since 2014’s Gone Girl. The filmmaker has been turning his attention to television as of late. He recently shot the Netflix pilot Mind Hunters.

Sources say Fincher, who is weary of sequels, having aired his displeasure during his time on Alien 3, has always been open to listening to Pitt when the actor reaches out. The duo nearly worked together on a reboot of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea for Disney a few years ago but that collaboration never materialized.

Paramount’s World War Z sequel was previously dated to open June 9, 2017. After losing J.A. Bayona to the untitled Jurassic World sequel, the studio is expected to delay the film’s release.